Olmert Couldn't Pick A Better Example?

Sunday, Olmert briefed his cabinet and in offering words of encouragement and assurance came up with this:

Olmert further invoked the "road map", a U.S.-backed peace plan from 2003 that conditioned the creation of a Palestinian state on a series of mutual confidence-building measures including a Palestinian crackdown on armed anti-Israel factions.

"Anything to do with implementing a (two-state) solution is predicated on making good on the road map, not just in terms of content but also of sequence," Olmert said in broadcast remarks.

Is the best that Olmert could come up with is the dead carcass on the road to peace known as 'the Road Map'?

Remember the Road Map?

A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only be achieved through an end to violence and terrorism, when the Palestinian people have a leadership acting decisively against terror and willing and able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty, and through Israel’s readiness to do what is necessary for a democratic Palestinian state to be established, and a clear, unambiguous acceptance by both parties of the goal of a negotiated settlement as described below. [emphasis added]

Does this sound anything like the situation that exists now, with the only real question mark about the November conference being how much Olmert is going to give away? If Olmert is so concerned about the sequence of the Road Map, maybe he should talk about it more explicity:

At the outset of Phase I:

Palestinian leadership issues unequivocal statement reiterating Israel’s right to exist in peace and security and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere. All official Palestinian institutions end incitement against Israel.

...Rebuilt and refocused Palestinian Authority security apparatus begins sustained, targeted, and effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. This includes commencing confiscation of illegal weapons and consolidation of security authority, free of association with terror and corruption.

Of course, with the current Fatah/Hamas split, no one is going to hold Abbas responsible to putting an end to the daily barrage of rockets fired at Israel--especially since he did nothing to stop it even before he was kicked out of Gaza. Now there are rumors that Hamas and Fatah are looking to get back together. After the November meeting, Abbas can avoid responsibility for the attacks on Israel, claim to be reigning in terror--and demand concessions accordingly--and then get together with Hamas.

Olmert in the meantime claims to have complete faith in the Abbas and Fayad--except maybe for one minor detail:

He said that in the past, there had been no certainty in Jerusalem that what the Palestinian leadership said was what it meant. Now, he said, Abbas and Fayad genuinely want peace, but the question is whether they can implement agreements.

Perhaps if Olmert could actually point to 1 agreement that Abbas has actually implemented, he could dispel the dark sense of foreboding that he actions continue to inspire.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Olmert and Abbas.